Switch



i June 6, 1933. E; N. JACOBl 1,912,982

SWITCH Filed Nov. 4, 1929 i .to

Patented `une 19.33

UNITI-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE P EDWARD N. JAcORr, or MILWAUKEE, WIscoNs1N,vAs`srGNoa To BRIecs e srRArrON "CORPORATION, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE y sWIrcn Application led November `This invention re-lates to certain new and useful improvelnents in switches, particularly to the type designed for making and breaking the ignition circuit of an automotive vehcle, although it is not limited to such use,

and `is a continuation in part of my application ledrA ril 2, 1929, Serial No. 357,118 now Patent j umber 1,842,451. The rimary object of thisinvention 1s to fm simpli y theconstruction of a switch of this type, reduce the number of its parts, afford maximum strength, and assure ease of operation and good electrical Contact between its contacts. in Another object otthis invention resides in the provision `of an actuator for driving the movable contactor and the novel manner of connecting it with the movable contactor whereby a positive .drive assured and the :application ofrelatively strong spring pressure to the contactor is facilitated.

Another object of this invention resides inthe provision of .a switch of the character .described wherein the movable contactor is stamped from'a single `sheet of metal and is .approximately channel shaped with enlargements thereon forming contact points. With the `above and other objects in View "which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention residesin .the novel construction, combination and arrangement of `parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly de'ine'dlby fthe 'appended c'laims, it lrbei-ng understood that such changes in the "precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may "be-made as come within 'the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of gmy invention constructed `according to `the best mode l have so :tar fldevised for the practical application of the -;pr'inci;ples thereof, and in which: d

Figure l isaltransversesectional view with .parts jin-elevation taken through a switch embodying my invention;

FigureQ isfan .end view partly fin elevation and Partly Section .taken l'through Figur@ 1 Q11 lflplane o,the,line2-*2; I

Figure -3 is, ta ftrallSVG/ISG SGCQOIlal View 4, 1929, Serial N'O. 404,670.V

taken through Figure l on theplane of the line 3 3; d

Figure 4 isa perspective view ofthe movable contactor assembly withlthe component parts thereof in disassembled position; and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the terminal carrying head and stationary contacts carried thereby.

Referring `now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral `5 represents a housing or casing which in thepresent instance is approximately cup-shaped having its outer closed end flanged as at 6 to engage the outer face of a mounting panel, not shown, in an aperture of which it is secured by a clamp nut 7 threaded on the casing.

The outer closed end of the casing has a central boreS, counterbored yat its inner end asat 9. An ,annular boss 10 projected from an actuating handle l1 is rotatably received in the bore 8 and is held in position by the 'inner closed end l2 of a switch actuator 13 secured thereto to be rotatable with the handle by screws 16 or the like. The side walls of the actuator .are grooved or cut away to provide a pair of diametrically opposed lugs `14 from the ends of which driving ears or projections 15 protrude, to provide means for imparting the handle controlled movements of the act-uator to a movable contactoras will be later described. f

\ The inner open endof the housing 5 is closed a terminal head 17 `carrying terminals 18 and 19 with which suitableconductors 2O and 2l `may be respectively connected, the terminals bei-ng secured Ato the head 17 by rivets 22 and 23 respectively, the heads '24 and 25 of which are embedded in the inner face of the terminal head Ato form the stationary contacts of the switch. The contacts l"24 and25 are adapted to `be electrically bridged, to complete the circuit 'in which Vthe switch is incorporated, a jmovable contactor 26 d whose position is controlled by the handle ll.

The movable Acontactor, as bestillustrated in `Figure 4is stamped from bendable lmetal `and isof substantiallye'longated and approximately diamond `'shape having 4side llanges 27 extended laterally from its sides to be freely slidably received in a similarly shaped aperture 28 in a drive member 29. The drive member 29 is preferably in the form of a disc of insulating material mounted in the bore of the casing or housing and has diameirically opposite peripheral notches 30 to receive the ears 15 of the actuator. The actuator is thus non-rotatably but axially movably connected with thevdrive member, the inward movement of the drive member being limited by the shoulders 31 formed by the ends of the lugs 14 from which the ears 15 protrude.

Gutward displacement of the drive member is prevented by the terminal head 17 which is secured over the open end of the housing 5 by spaced projections 32 extended therefrom and spun over the outer face of the terminal head as best shown in Figure 2, the periphery of the terminal head being reduced in diameter at opposite sides as at 33 to receive the projections 32.

The ends 34 of the movable contactor extend beyond its medial portion 35 to form raised contact portions and to provide sulficient electrical clearance between the stationary contacts when the contactor is in its ott position. A good electrical Contact between the ends 34 of the movable contactor and the stationary contacts 24 and 25 is insured by the action of an expansive spring 36 conned between the medial portion of the contactor and an insulated spring seat 38 nested within the actuator 12, the spring being guided at one end by the side flanges 27 of the contactor and at its other end by a recess 37 in the insulated seat 38.

To obtain maximum contact area 1t 1s esllb sential that the stationary contacts be of considerable diameter which brings them close to the Wall of the housing 5, and to provide the necessary electrical clearance without increasing the size of the housing, the inner wall is notched opposite each stationary contact as at 39, see Figures 1 and 2. Y

The movable contactor 26 being of approximately channel and diamond shape can receive considerable pressure and consequently thespring 36 may be comparatively strong to insure a Vgood wiping contact as it is moved onto and off of the contacts, and as the contactor is free to move axially in the drive member, and the spring turns with the movable elements, it is evident that the switch may be compacted into a small convenient size, without undue friction to oppose its movements and produce excessive wear.

j What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a switch structure, a casing, a stationary contact carried by the casing, a movable contactor adapted to be engaged with the stationary contact, a drive member having an irregular aperture in which the movable contactor is freely axially movable but otherwise held against relative movement with respect to the drive member, an actuating member, means connectin T the drive member with the actuating member whereby movement thereof moves the drive member to move the movable contactor into and out of engagement with the stationary contact, and means yieldably urging the movable contactor in an axial direction toward the stationary contact.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing, a terminal head carried by the casing, a stationary contact on said terminal head, a movable contactor of irregular shape and engageable with the stationary contact, an actuating member movable in the casing, projections extended from the actuating member, and a drive member having a central opening to non-rotatably receive the movable contactor and having notches to receive the projections extended from the actuating member whereby the movable contactor is rotatable with the actuating member.

3. In a device of the character described,l a casing, an actuating member rotatable therein, a terminal head closing the casing, stationary contacts on the terminal head, a movable contactor of irregular shape within the casing and adapted to bridge the stationary contacts, a drive member having a correspondingly shaped central opening to nonrotatably receive the movable contactor, projections extended from the adjacent end of the actuating member and received in recesses formed in the drive member, whereby rotation of the actuating member is imparted to the movable contactor, and spring means extended through the opening in the drive member and bearing against the movable contactor and the actuating member to yieldably urge the movable contactor through the opening in the drive member and toward the .terminal head.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing, an actuatingV member rotatable therein, a terminal head closing the casing, stationary contacts on the terminal head, a movable contactor of irregular shape within the casing, a drive member, a correspondingly shaped central opening to non-rotatably receive the movable contactor and rotatable in the casing to guide the movement of the movable contactor, projections extended from the actuating member and received in recesses formed in the drive member whereby rotation of the actuating member is imparted to the movable contactor, spring means extended through the opening in the drive member and bearing against the movable contactor and the actuating member to yieldably urge the movable contactor through the opening in the drive member and toward the terminal head, and a spring seat of insulating material carried by the actuating member to receive the adjacent end of the spring means to `insulate the movable contactor from the actnating member. y

5. In a device of the character described, a casing, a terminal head carriedby 'the casing, a stationary contacton said terminal head, a. movable contactor of elongated shape engageable with thestationary contact, a drive member having a correspondingly shaped aperture to receive the movable contactor, operating means within the mounting member and engaged with the drive member whereby the movable contactor is rotatable withthe operating means, and spring means urging the movable contactor toward the terminal head, the movable contactor being free to move in the drive member aperture under the iniluence of said spring means.

6. The combination with a switch structure of the character described, of an elongated movable contactor substantially U shaped in cross section and stamped from a single piece of bendable metal, and a drive member having an elongated central opening to receive the movable contactor with its side walls engaged with the sides oi the opening whereby the movable contactor is non-rotatably but axially slidably connected with the drive member. Y t

7. In a switch device of the character described, a terminal head, spaced stationaryV i able contactor when the same is in a position at which its ends arevdisengaged from the contacts is provided, means for actuating the movable contactor, and means yieldably urging the movable contactor toward the terminal head.

8. The combination with a switch device of the character described, including spaced contacts, of an elongated movable contactor terminal head having spaced stationary conv tacts, a substantially elongated diamond shaped movable contactor having laterally directed side walls so that the contactor is U shaped in cross section, said side walls converging toward the ends of the contactor with the diamond shape thereof to form a chamber on one side of the contactor, ya drive member having a central opening corresponding in shape to the movable contactor to non-rotatably receive the same with the side wallsof the opening engaging the said walls of the contactor, an actuator non-rotatably connected with the drive member for imparting rotation to the movable contactor to move the same to a position bridging the stationary contacts, and spring means having one end seated in the chamber formed by the side walls of the contactor and its other end bearing against the actuator for yieldably urging the contactor toward the terminal head.

10. In an electric switch, a bored mounting member, a `rotatable switch element, and means for supporting the switch element for rotation about the axis of the mounting member bore and for axially sliding movement comprising, a member having a snug but freely movable engagement directly with the wall of the bore and an opening in which-the switch element is axially slidably received.

11. In an electric switch, a bored mounting member, a rotatable switch element, and means for supporting the switch element for rotation about the axis of the mounting member bore and for axially sliding movement comprising, a member having a snug but freely movable engagement directly with the wall of the bore, and means connecting the switch element with said member, said means permitting Afree axial sliding of the switch element with respect to said member but preventing relative rotation of said parts.

12. In an electric switch, a mounting member having a bore, a rotatable switch element, and means supporting the switch element for rotation about the axis of the mounting member bore and for axial sliding movement within the mounting member bore comprising, a disc having its outer periphery directly engaged with the wall of the bore and having an opening in which the switch element is axially slidably received.

18. In an electric switch, a bored mounting member, a rotatable switch element having a part of non-circular cross section, and means for supporting the switch element for rotation about the axis of the mounting member` bore and for axially sliding movement in the bore, comprising a disc o `insulating material having its outer` periphery contacting directly with the wall ofthe bore and an opening therein to receive said non-circular part of the switch element.

14. In an electric switch, a bored 'mount-n cai Vnon-circular part of the switch element.

. 15. In an electric switch, a cylindrical casing, a rotatable switch element, and a drivel` for the switch element having an opening to non-rotatably but slidably receive the switch element and being rotatably mounted in `the cylindrical casing by contracting directly with the inner wall thereof.

16. In an electric switch, a bored mounting member, a stationary contact, ay rotatable switch element within the mounting member bore and engageable with the stationary 1 contact, a driver mounted for rotation within the mounting member bore by contacting directly with the wall o' the bore, said driver having an opening to non-rotatably but slidably receive part of the switch clement, yieldable means independent of the driver :tor providing` contact pressure for the switch element, and an actuator non-rotatably connected with the driver.

17. In an electric switch, a mounting meinber having a bore. an actuator supported from the mounting member for rotation about the axis of the bore, a rotatable switch element having a non-circular part, and means for mounting the switch element within the mounting member bore and for imparting rotation from the actuator to the switch element comprising, a member having an opening receiving the non-circular part of the switch member and contacting directly with the wall of the bore, and a non-rotatable connection between said member and .the actuator.

18. In an electric switch7 a. bored mounting member, an actuator carried bv the mounting member and rotatable about the axis of the bore, in the mounting member bore and having a non-circular part, and means for supporting the switch element in the mounting member bore and for imparting rotation from the actuator to the switch element comprising, a disc of substantial thickness having an opening to receive the non-circular part o the switch element and having its periphery contacting directly with the wall of the bore, and

. a non-rotatable connection between the actuator and said disc, said non-rotatable connection being readily separable upon axial movement of Vthe'disc away trom the actuator beyond a predetermined degree.

a rotatable switch element A v 19. As a new article of manufacture, a; cliannel-shaped contactor having flanges on its long sides constituting guide surfaces and provided in its central web with contacts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed by signature.

' EDWARD N. JACOBI.

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